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“That’s all I care about. I promised to be patient. I’m a man of my word.” I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips, touching a soft kiss to the skin.
It was an innocent gesture, something most people wouldn’t think a big deal. But for Imogene, I knew it was a huge step, considering Liam was here.
When we were together all those years ago, she purposefully avoided touching me in his presence for fear of upsetting him. It was why she insisted on keeping our relationship a secret. Granted, I also wanted to keep it from him in the beginning.
Toward the end, I no longer cared about how he might react. All I cared about was finally being able to tell the world how much I loved Imogene.
I’d underestimated the hold he had on her, the blame she’d placed on her shoulders because of what her sperm donor had done to Liam’s mother. It didn’t matter how many times I’d tried to make her realize that Liam was using that to manipulate her. She refused to see it.
Maybe she finally had.
“Come on. Everyone’s over here.”
Linking her fingers with mine, she led me toward a high-top table where Melanie and their parents stood, everyone in formal dress. Although I could sense Imogene’s stepfather hated everything about the tuxedo he was currently wearing. It was nice to know he was still much more comfortable in a t-shirt and board shorts, even all these years later.
As we approached, Melanie zeroed in on Imogene’s hand wrapped in mine and arched a brow. Imogene responded with a small shrug, biting her lower lip.
“Mama, Lachlan, you remember Gideon Saint.” She withdrew her hand, allowing me to shake her stepfather’s hand.
“Nice to see you again,” Lachlan said.
“You, too.” I turned from him and touched a chaste kiss to her mother’s cheek. “Ms. Hale.”
“You can just call me Julia,” she admonished.
“Julia.” I returned her cordial smile, then faced Melanie and her parents. “Good to see you all.”
“Did you have a nice afternoon?” Olivia asked.
“It was quite…refreshing,” I responded as I placed my hand on Imogene’s hip, pulling her close.
Thankfully, she didn’t shrug out of my touch. If anything, she leaned into it.
“Did you go to the driving range with Liam and the others?” Alexander inquired, bringing a rocks glass containing a dark amber liquid to his mouth. “I understand you’re playing on their foursome tomorrow.”
“Not this time.”
“Pretty sure he was more interested in another kind of driving range,” Melanie mumbled under her breath from beside Imogene, which earned her daggers from her friend before she nervously glanced at Julia and Lachlan. The room was filled with too much conversation for anyone to have heard.
“I figure I’ll have my fill of golf tomorrow,” I continued. “I’ve got eighteen excruciating holes to work on my drive.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Lachlan raised his scotch toward me and we clinked glasses.
“So, Gideon,” Alexander began after I’d taken a sip of my champagne. “What is it you do?”
“A bit of everything. Lately, my focus has been investments.”
“Then I suppose you and Alton will have a lot to talk about tomorrow. Liam and James, too, since the stock market is all those three seem to discuss.”
“Not that kind of investment,” I corrected. “I prefer to invest in people rather than stocks.”
“You do?” Julia tilted her head.
“Yes. Although it’s not as altruistic as I make it sound. I own a venture capital firm. Established companies who hope to take their organizations to the next level give me a percentage in exchange for more capital.”
“Do you only work with well-established companies?” Lachlan asked.
“Not necessarily. There have been a few ideas I invested in early on as an angel investor. It’s still too early to see if it’s been a good decision, but I’m hopeful. I like to think I have a good sense for what kind of products or services will be in demand.”
